PEERS DEMAND BBC MUST HONOUR TV LICENCE PLEDGE
BBC bosses were told they must honour their commitment to free TV licences for the over-75s yesterday.
Peers in the House of
Lords hit out at the broadcaster for making excuses about imposing a “tax” on older viewers.
Annual bills of £157.50 are due to be levied on the age group from next month for the first time in 20 years.
But the BBC is believed to be considering another delay before charging the fee, which will hit nearly four million viewers.
The original June start date for billing the over-75s was pushed back to August in light of the coronavirus crisis.
But peers have told the BBC to “stop the blame game” and called for the changes to be delayed indefinitely.
Lord McCrea called on the broadcaster to keep its earlier promises.
He said: “In light of what our elderly have already experienced with Covid19, the isolation and loneliness they have endured.
“It’s time for the BBC to stop the blame game and honour the clear commitment already given to the over-75s.”
Vital
Peers want the plans to be put on ice long-term while an alternative way of saving cash is found.
They claim the arrival of Tim Davie as the new BBC director general in September is a chance to make changes.
Leading campaigner Lord Foulkes, who secured the discussion in Parliament, said the decision to push back the June start date showed television is a lifeline for many older viewers.
The Labour peer said: “Surely both the BBC and the Government have accepted by postponing for two months how vital television is for old people keeping in touch with vital information from the Government as well as entertainment and other information.
“Surely it’s not too much to ask the Government and the BBC to get together now to discuss postponing this withdrawal of the free TV licences indefinitely.” The Daily Express has been crusading to keep TV licences free for the over-75s since the benefit was first put under threat.
BBC bosses agreed to take on responsibility for funding the scheme as part of the charter agreement hammered out with the Government in 2015.
But the corporation now says it cannot afford to continue the universal benefit, which costs £745million a year. Critics point out that it continues to hand generous salary hikes to its stars, with football presenter Gary Lineker topping its pay charts with a salary of around £1.75million.
Tory peer Lord Naseby said the BBC should find another way to keep the benefit instead of “taxing” older people.
He said: “Bearing in mind that pensioners have suffered more than most in the lockdown, and that TV remains their number one contact with outside life, is it really sensible or fair that the vast majority of them are going to face an annual tax? Surely the BBC should find a way to pay this long-held free TV licence?”
Broadcaster Baroness Bakewell said the over-75s are a “very varied” group and some are “extremely rich” but many “can’t afford it”. She added: “Therefore there is an opportunity here to offer some scale of payment.”
Only viewers on Pension Credit will be eligible for a free licence under the plans. But around 1.2 million pensioners who are eligible for the support do not receive it, with some unaware they are entitled to it.
A BBC spokesman said: “The Government decided to end the free TV licence for the over-75s and gave the BBC responsibility to decide on its future. We consulted with the public and reached the fairest decision possible, to support the poorest, oldest pensioners.
“We delayed the introduction of the new scheme until August as a result of the pandemic, and we are keeping that decision under review.
“During lockdown the BBC has played an important role informing and entertaining all our audiences, including older people. The board will announce its decision this month.”
Media minister Baroness Barran said the BBC “remains operationally independent of Government” and “is responsible for this matter”.